Inovatec MachineryYour Best Industrial Harperizing Machine Manufacturer in China

Harperizer Definitive Guide

1. What Is a Harperizer Machine?

A harperizer machine is a high-precision and high-speed finishing equipment that first surfaced over 30 years ago. Harperizers are synonymous with centrifugal finishers and were first introduced by Harper. They have since revolutionized the concept of high-energy and high-speed mass finishing.

Till today, this high-energy mass finishing technology has continued to champion the future of centrifugal barrel mass finishing (CBF).

Upon switching on the Harperizer, the turret spins at a high speed in one direction, and the cylindrical barrels slowly rotate in the opposite direction, thereby, generating a high-intensity and high-speed centrifugal force within each barrel.

The G-force drives, compresses, and rubs the media and the parts (work-piece) together, and against the walls of the barrel in a consistent and repeated manner to achieve the desired polishing. This high-intensity force also ensures that part-on-part impingements do not occur by preventing tumbling actions that are rampant in other mass finishing systems.

As with other mass finishing machines, the choice of media to be used in the Harperizer will be dependent on the size of the work-piece (parts), its shape, and the desired surface finish.

The barrels should be 50-90% full to harness the machine’s maximum finishing efficiency.

At the moment, there are thousands of Harperizers in service all over the globe; this exemplifies their level of widespread acceptance and versatility.

Harperizers are technologically advanced mass finishing machines and they boast a state-of-the-art electronic design, top-notch automated parts handling systems, and a precise numerical machine control system.

These features have ensured that Harperizer machines are a force to reckon with in the mass finishing industry.

2. Why Choose Inovatec’s Harperizer for Your Surface Finishing?

Harperizers are the mass metal finishing industry’s go-to machine for quite some reasons. When compared to other finishing machines like the vibratory deburring machine and conventional tumblers, Inovatec Harperizers stand out.

The Harperizing (centrifugal finishing) process is considered the most effective and efficient means to handle delicate or small work-pieces and hard-to-reach edges and corners.

The resulting sliding action generated by the centrifugal force (g-force) induced in Harperizers is usually gentle and sufficient enough to provide uniform and finely polished work-pieces without inflicting any form of damage to the harperized work-pieces. The process of buffing of workpieces using this machine is often referred to as harper buffing.

The efficiency, effectiveness, and sophistication of this harper polishing machine make harperizing a choice technique for processing work-pieces in the aerospace, medical equipment, and automotive industries.

The quality of finishing is unrivaled, uniform, and consistent.

The speed of operation is another factor that sets Harperizers apart; they can produce massive results in a little time compared to other mass finishing processes. This machine is able to complete each finishing cycle at a rate that is 30x quicker than vibratory finishers and 90x faster than conventional barrel tumblers.

Another reason to choose Inovatec’s Harperizer for your surface finishing is the elimination of manual and labor-intensive routines. It is now possible to complete each processing cycle in just under 5 minutes as opposed to manual processing which may take several hours and, in some cases, days to complete.

Harperizers provide manufacturers with the opportunity to cut costs on logistics and inventory. Instead of having to move parts (work-piece) around for deburring or other processes, they can now complete all required finishing operations in their production facilities.

At Inovatec, our Harperizers are embedded with computerized programmable controllers (CPCs) called PLC. The incorporation of PLCs will ensure that our machine overcomes the drawbacks that plagued earlier models of centrifugal finishers and harperizers.

The computerized programmable controller embedded in our harperizers provides operators with an interactive touchscreen interface where they can manage storage capabilities, control and monitor the exerted centrifugal force, and, of course, follow up on troubleshooting and maintenance prompts.

You can go for a mini-harperizer machine from Inovatec if your part quantity is small.

3. What Are the Benefits of Harperizer Machines?

3.1 Short Processing Time

Apart from the fact that a Harperizer is able to handle delicate parts without damage, it does so within a very short period and at a much lower cost.

Each deburring and polishing cycle takes just a few minutes to complete as opposed to manual processing which may take several hours and, sometimes, days to complete.

3.2 Level of Accuracy and Media Variation

The level of accuracy of Harperizers is one of their numerous benefits, all thanks to the PLCs. Once the barrels have been loaded, and the parameters have been inputted, you can only expect process consistency and up to 99% accuracy.

Harperizers are far more controllable compared to other vibratory machines because of the variability of the harperizer media and the smoother action they offer.

It is easier to achieve controlled radii on the edges and corners of metals and other parts.

3.3 Consistent, Superior and Fast-Paced Finishing

Harperizers are able to output massive results in a little or no time when juxtaposed with other mass finishing machines.

A mass finishing cycle can be completed at a rate that is 30x quicker than vibratory finishers, 90x faster than conventional barrel tumblers, and a thousand times faster than hand finishing.

In other words, the use of Harperizers has now made it possible to complete each processing cycle in just under 5 minutes as opposed to manual processing which may take several hours and, in some cases, days to complete.

The harperizing (centrifugal finishing) process is considered the most efficient means to handle delicate work-pieces and hard-to-reach sections of work-pieces.

The high-speed gliding action generated by the centrifugal force (G-force) in the harperizing process is usually subtle and sufficient enough to provide a consistent, superior, finely polished, and uniform finishing without inflicting any form of damage to the harperized work-pieces or the media.

3.4 Ease of Maintenance

Harperizers are designed to maximally serve industrial demands and requirements.

The CPCs embedded in Harperizers provide operators with an interactive touchscreen interface that eases serviceability, troubleshooting, and maintenance.

In general, the easier it is to maintain a piece of equipment, the more productive and dependable it becomes.

Mostly, lubrication may just be all that will be required.

3.5 Eliminates Manual Finishing

Inovatec Harperizers eliminate the need for hand/manual finishing and other labor-intensive finishing processes, all process parameters can be monitored, thereby, spurring productivity, accuracy, consistency, and uniformity in all directions.

3.6 Ease of Operation

Our Harperizers are easy to operate, all thanks to our exclusive CPC/touchscreen feature. An operator can be trained in less than one hour and he/she can begin operating the machine.

We have eliminated all complications and ambiguity from the machine’s manual and have also replaced complex machine components as required by other machines with simple ones that function better and seamlessly.

3.7 Safety Compliance

Inovatec’s Harperizers are designed in compliance with industry standards and safety codes.

The safety of operators is assured as well as the longevity of the equipment.

Every component of our Harperizer machine was painstakingly engineered, tested through FEA by subjecting them to unrealistic forces to ascertain their limits.

4. What Are the Functions of a Harperizer?

Harperizers offer a lot of versatility and they seem to have an endless stream of functions and applications.

Their functions are more extensive than those of other mass finishing machines.

Harperizers are designed to efficiently meet any of these functions:

• Deburring: removal of the most common type of burrs, and sharp edges both externally and internally after the process of machining.
• Uniform corner and edge radiusing: A perfect, controlled, uniform, and consistent edge and corner radiusing is achieved without distortion. This action exceptionally improves the fatigue life of work-pieces (parts).
• Refinement of surfaces: Superb refinement of surfaces without manual polishing or grinding
• Surface smoothing/polishing: delicate parts (work-pieces) such as jewelry can be polished efficiently without any impingement to the material. This is similar to burnishing – polished parts attain a shiny and mirror-like appearance.
• Deflashing of parts: Optimal and efficient removal of flashing or leftover machine lines from all kinds of injection molded parts and castings including metals, rubber, and plastics.
• Descaling: After heat treatment, descaling facilitates the optimal removal of scales without utilizing media blasting or chemicals
• Cleaning of surfaces: The preparation of surfaces for the net level of finishing operation.
• High-grade micro finishing: This involves the blending and removal of surface imperfection after grinding.

Other functions of Harper surface finishing systems include stress relieving, generation of compressive stresses, pre-paint and pre-plate finishing, and the removal of defects and unwanted materials off the surface of parts.

Your surface requirements will determine if the work-pieces will undergo all of these processes of just a few to attain the desired finishing.

The use of Harper surface finishing systems is to execute these functions to eliminate the need to use unreliable and sometimes, more expensive conventional tumblers and labor-intensive operations.

5. What Harperizer Configurations Are There?

A Harperizer machine is available in various types of configurations and sizes.

These configurations include horizontal or vertical axis with removable or fixed barrels.

This machine can be equipped with an automatic material handling system to aid the conveyance, separation, and loading of the work-piece and the harperizer media.

The capacity of a Harperizer machine ranges from under 1ft³ to more than 30ft³. Harperizers can handle parts as small as 0.003inch or as heavy as more than 250 pounds.

6. What Type of Media Is Suitable for Use in a Harperizer?

Of course, the material, size, and geometry of the part to be harperized will determine the size and shape of the media to be used. The most common media is ceramic media because it has numerous use cases.

Other media include plastic media, organic media (walnut, corn cob, etc.), steel media, etc.

Common shapes of media include cones, pyramids, tetrahedrons, cylinders, wedges, spheres, etc.

7. What Is the Warranty on Inovatec Harperizer?

We are one of the top 3 mass finishing consumables and equipment manufacturers in China, and our machines are designed with respect to industry standards, and machinery/workplace safety code.

At Inovatec, we provide our clients with a 2-year warranty on all our equipment.

We also go the extra mile to provide additional lifespan maintenance on all our equipment after the expiration of the two-year warranty period.

8. How Is Maintenance Carried Out for a Harperizer?

Generally, Harperizers are designed to stay in service for decades, however, maintenance will be required occasionally and as practicable as possible.

From time to time, lubrication of machine components will be required.

In most cases, simple lubrication will just be enough except if there are electrical faults or other issues.

Also, at a predetermined frequency, mostly based on usage hours, an operator will be prompted by the machine to carry out maintenance operations.

Harperizers are designed such that all their components and sections are easily accessible, thereby, making maintenance operations a walk in the park.

9. How Does a Harperizer Machine Work?

The centrifugal action of Harperizers can be compared to the action of washing machines that spins and the inertia generates a counter-rotation that pushes fabrics towards the walls of its barrel, and water moves through the pores.

A typical harperizer machine has 2 or more cylindrical barrels (containers) affixed to the periphery of a turret. The barrels are loaded with the work-pieces and the media proportionately, and also, with an adequate amount of water.

Upon switching on the Harperizer, the turret spins at a high speed in one direction, and the cylindrical barrels slowly rotate in the opposite direction, thereby, generating a high-intensity and high-speed centrifugal force within each barrel.

The G-force drives and rubs the harperizer media and the parts (work-piece) together, and against the walls of the barrel in a consistent and repeated manner to achieve the desired polishing.

This high-intensity force also ensures that part-on-part impingements do not occur by preventing tumbling actions that are rampant in other mass finishing systems.

10. Why Choose a Harperizer Machine Over Other Machines for Your Mass Finishing Operations?

10.1 Faster Cycle

When compared to vibratory finishers or other finishing machines, Harperizers generate a force that is 30x larger than their counterparts.

The resulting effect of this high-intensity centrifugal force is the evident improvement in the time taken to complete a processing cycle.

Choosing a Harperizer machine for your finishing operations offers a processing time that is about 30 times faster.

Likewise, the efficiency of the media-parts interaction is largely improved as the media can reach the tight holes and corners of the work-piece

This is hardly achievable using a vibratory machine or conventional tumblers.

10.2 Zero Damage to Parts

The interaction between the media and the work-piece in vibratory systems is capable of causing part-on-part impingement while in the harperizing process, a sliding action is generated inside the rotating barrels; even when the work-pieces slide against each other, no damage is caused.

10.3 Process Can Be Controlled

Unlike in the vibratory and other finishing systems, where operators have to periodically monitor the work-pieces being processed to ascertain process completion, Harperizers can be controlled and do not require periodic inspection.

Other mass finishing equipment yield different results per cycle, but Harperizers are able to provide consistent results and uniform part finishing at all times.

10.4 Best for Flat and Delicate Parts

Are you searching for a process that best handles soft or flat materials? Or you are looking at achieving a high-grade surface finishing?

Look no further than the Harperizing process.

A Harperizer machine can provide high-grade surface polishing and it’s very suitable for delicate parts (work-piece) such as aluminum, jewelry, etc.

11. Is It Possible to Adjust the Operating Speed of a Harperizer?

Yes, the operating speed of a Harperizer can be controlled and adjusted depending on the degree of surface finishing desired and cycle processing time.

12. Does Inovatec Offer After-Sales Services for Harperizer Machine?

Of course, we provide support to our clients all the way. We provide manuals alongside the products to guide you through installing and operating our Harperizer machine. We are available to answer any questions you may have.

We will also provide whatever support you need to get the best out of our Harperizer throughout its service life. We are always available to send you videos on how to fix any mechanical and electrical issues as long as you can provide us with the necessary details to help us understand your challenge.

We are available to ship replacement parts to you in any part of the world.

Although, we make sure to use international as well as simple brands of electronic and mechanical components that should be readily available in your local electronic stores, so you do not experience long downtimes.

13. What Type of Materials Can Be Processed in a Harperizer?

Virtually any type of material can be harperized such as Steel, Aluminum, Zinc, Brass, Bronze, Stainless, etc.

14. What Level of Technicality Is Required to Operate a Harperizer Machine?

To operate a Harperizer machine, too much technicality is not required on the part of the operators; all thanks to our exclusive CPC/touchscreen feature which provides an interactive and operator-friendly interface.

It is possible for an operator to be trained in less than one hour and he/she can begin to relate and execute mass finishing operations with the machine.

We have simplified our operation manuals by eliminating all sorts of complications and ambiguity. Also, all complex machine components have been replaced with simple ones that function better and seamlessly. Hence, making our Harperizer machines friendly and easy to operate.

15. How Do You Choose the Right Size and Shape of Media for a Harperizer Machine?

To expatiate on the subject of media suitability, it is important to recognize that there exist some underlying factors if you wish to harness the maximum benefits of a Harperizer machine. These factors are media penetration characteristics, shape and lodgement characteristics, and part-media separation.

Conventional tumblers have been known to have problems based on the highlighted factors.

A couple of them find it difficult to handle smaller and delicate parts because they mostly handle weighty materials.

Harperizers have a different application, and the centrifugal force it generates helps it to efficiently handle the media and the parts regardless of the size or shape.

This equipment enables adequate surface contacting between the media and the parts, thereby, resulting in a superior surface finishing.